Fig. 3.

There was a correlation between reduced circulating dendritic cells and an increased density of Langerhans cell infiltration (0 = 0 cells/high-power field, 1 = 1–5 cells/high-power field, 2 = 6–10 cells/high-power field and 3 = more than 10 cells/high-power field) of CD1a⁺ (anova test for linear contrast, P <0·0001, n = 44) and Langerin⁺ (P < 0·0001, n = 44) within the non-cancerous mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancer. One explanation for this is that a cancer-related increase in local levels of TGF-β1 resulted in DC redistribution from the circulation into the peri-tumoural tissues.